Invalid&#39;s footrest and exerciser



Feb. 1, 1944. J. M. JOHANSON INVALIDS FOOT REST AND EXERGISER ..v|z..........:e v r Filed Oct. 7, 1941 l 'atented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g 7 2,340,666 A f INVALIDS FOOTREST AND EXERCISE-114.. l i A Y Johanna M. J chanson, Concord, Mass. Application October 7, 1941,,Serial No. 413,939

Claims.

In connection with the treatment of various ailments of the feet and ankles, as, for example, in restoring normal muscular and nerve conditions after a fracture, or in some types of arthritis, proper support of the foot while the patient is in bed often is important, and this is particularly true during the foot exercises frequently prescribed for such patients.

The present invention aims to devise a simple and inexpensive, but highly effective, apparatus for these purposes. The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus constructedin accordance with this invention and indicating a typical method of using it;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the foot supporting device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but with the foot rest made in two sections.

The construction illustrated in the drawing comprises an elongated plate-like support 2 which may conveniently consist of a board of suitable dimensions, preferably provided with a short foot section 3 extending at an angle therefrom so as to remain in a more or less upright position when not otherwise supported. Such a position is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Adjustably attached to the opposite ends of the rest or support 2 are two straps 44 each preferably extending through a ring 5, the two sections being connected by a buckle 6 like that used on suspenders, garters, and various other articles, to adjust the over-all length of the portions of the straps utilized at any time. Fastened at one end to the ring 5 is another strap I having a snap hook 8 in its opposite end and which, to all intents and purposes, may be regarded as an extension of the strap 4. This section I, however, provides a convenient means for attaching the main section 4 of each strap releasably to somesuitable member on the headpiece of a bed. As shown, the part I is looped around the bar I0, and then is brought back and the hook 8 is snapped into the ring 5.

At the ends of the straps adjacent to the footpiece of the bed, each is provided with a loop I2, and the two loops extend around the two end portions of the support 2. For this purpose the board 2 may be slotted, as indicated at a, and notched as shown at b, so that the loops can readily be adjusted around the support.

. In using the apparatus the patient usually is resting in bed in an inclined position, somewhat as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the straps are so adjusted as to hold the board 2 firmly against the bottoms of his feet. Whilehis feet are so supported he can rock the board about .ahorizontal axis, thus simulating the movements taneously in so exercising the muscles instead of rocking them alternately, as in walking, but,th is is not an important difference, since the object of' thus flexing the ankles is to exercise the muscles. By suitably adjusting the straps, thepresaccordance with the instructions of the physician.

Thus the invention provides a very simple and inexpensive piece of equipment adapted to support the bottoms of the feet during rest or while the patient exercises his feet and ankles. It can readily be attached to the bed or removed therefrom, and is adjustable to suit a wide variety of conditions.

When an arch support is required, a pad M may be secured releasably in the proper position on part of the face of the support for contact with the arch portions of the feet, thus leaving other portions llil6, Fig. 2, free for either foot to rest against While the pad remains in place. This pad may be made of any suitable resilient material, either of a fibrous nature or a pneumatic construction, and it may be attached to the support by extending the end portions of the pad, or the cover therefor, and connecting them with a piece of elastic webbing 15, Figs. 3 and 4, so that the entire arch supporting element will be made in the form of a band having a sufiicient degree of elasticity to retain itself in any position of adjustment on the support 2. It can be removed or replaced whenever desired.

Also, if desired, the support 2 may be divided into two sections 2'2, as shown in Fig. 5, and these sections may be independently connected with the respective straps 4'4. With such an arrangement the sections may be rocked independently by the feet and the ability to rock them alternately simulates more closely the muscular movements of the feet required in walking. Also, the two sections may be connected in any suitablemanner, asby the-elastic member 6, Fig. 5, to support them against iside strain tending to separate them too far. This member e may be a part of the cover for the arch supporting pads or it may simply be connected to them. It should be long enough-toavoidinterfering with the independent rocking motion of the two foot rests 2'2.

While I have herein shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it willbe evidentthat the invention may be embodied i'n' other forms within the spirit and-scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what'I desire to claim as new is:

1. An invalids'foot-rest of the character described, comprising a horizontal elongated plate- ;like support having an edge portion'ada'pted to rest on a bed in position for the contact of'a face j 2. Aninvalids foot-restaccording topreceding claim 1; including an arch rest extendinghorizontally lengthwise of said support between bed and having a face portion for contact with l the bottoms of the patients feet, and straps releasably connecting the opposite end portions of said support with the head portion of the bed to h oldth e support against the bottoms of the patients'feet, 'said straps being adjustably connected with said support to vary the distribution -of pressure as desired between the ball and heel portions of the feet.

'5. An invalids foot rest of :the'character 'described, comprising ahorizontally-elongated-sup -port adapted torest'in'a rocking position on a bed and having a face portion for contact with the bottoms of the patientsfeet; and straps re- "leasably connecting the, opposite end portions of said support with the-headfiportion of the bed 'to hold the support againstthe bottomskof the patients feet so that the support may betipped by the patient about a horizontal axis to simu- "late the'rocking motion of thefeet in-wa-lking,

said support comprising twosectionspositioned side by side, one for each foot; said sections being connected, respectively, to: saidstraps so that each section'may'be rocked independently of the other, and connecting means "holding "said sections together but permitting said independent rocking movement of them.

JOHANNA M. JOHANSON. 

